Foreign News: THE POWERFUL PRESIDENT OF FRANCE

UNDER De Gaulle's new constitution, the President, who under the Fourth
Republic was largely a figurehead, becomes in the Fifth the
fountainhead of power.

De Gaulle will undoubtedly become that President in December (he has
absolute emergency powers, without hindrance, as Premier in the
meantime). The constitutional President will have the authority to
appointand dischargePremiers who "shall direct the operation of the
government" and "ensure the execution of the laws." The President will
sign ordinances and decrees, negotiate and ratify treaties, control the
appointments to civil and military posts. He is empowered to...